Update on NA Team

The three guys plus S and his son Z left Monday morning for the 3 day hike. We hiked nearly 40 miles over some very steep terrain.  Having Dr Aldrich along with us open many doors that have been closed to the Message before.  When we  came to the first village, we simply asked "is anyone among you sick?"  The quick reply from one of the village leaders was "we are all sick". Then the man invited us in and we spent the next hour checking blood pressures and having Ryan visit with many folks who came to the house there.  Word quickly spread that a Dr was in town and soon a crowd began to gather. This gave us a chance to pray for them and show God's love by showing concern for their physical and spiritual well being.  For the next 3 days we made several stops and many contacts with people there.
Jasmine stayed behind and she and N had some wonderful visits with many of the local ladies.
Jasmine was allowed to share her testimony several times.  She was well received by all those with whom she  had a chance to share.
We will begin our journey home on Thursday and return to Shawnee by Friday night. Thanks so much to all who prayed for us.  This truly was a blessing to share God's love in this spiritually dark place. Continue praying for the work here and especially for S & N and their family.

NA team Arrived

We arrived Early Saturday on site.  Saturday was spent sorting out our stuff and visiting the market. On Sunday we spent all day in the village, aka The Moon.  We had a chance to install the water boxes
We planted 4 grape vines using this new technology that protects the new trees and allows them to grow much faster.
While there we discovered a lady in the village had passed away. As we completed planting the trees we noticed several people digging her grave for burial later that day. This stark reality of death led to an interesting discussion of what happens to a person after they die.

This morning (Monday) the guys begin their hike to a remote area  nearby. We hope to make some important contacts along the way. Pray for our safety and for strength to endure the long hike over some very rough terrain. Sorry for the short post but we need to hit the trail.

NA Team Departs Thursday March 7

The next team to North Africa will leave this Thursday March 7 and return March 15.  Team members include Dr. A, Tim , Jasmine  and Mark.  Our flight will take us through Madrid and we hope to land at the airport in North Africa by late Friday night. Then after another 3 hour drive we will finally make to S & N's house.  We will get unpacked and get ourselves organized on Saturday.  Sunday we plan to go to the village, AKA "The Moon" to work with our friends there.  We brought along several "water boxes" that will be used for helping the new starter trees maintain moisture year round.  We might build a few "hoop houses" while we are there. Here is a picture of one of the water boxes.

On Monday, the guys will begin the hike. It will consist of a 3 day journey into a new area of min*stry and sharing.  Pr@y that will we have open doors and opportunities to tell the good news.
Jasmine and N will have visits with the local ladies in the surrounding area.  We will meet back up on Wednesday.  Then on Thursday we will make our journey back to Shawnee via, one night in Madrid.
We will arrive home on Friday night about 9 local time.
Thanks to all of you for pr@ying for our missi@n team.  We are so grateful to the L0rd for the wonderful supporters at IBC.
Mark

North Africa Trip – Update 1

We arrived at our destination and met up with our friends on Sunday afternoon.  The trip here was really pretty uneventful, which isn’t always the case.  All of our bags and supplies even made it here without getting lost.  We spent the rest of the day hanging out with our friends and their family.  There was even enough time to go outside and play a little baseball – sandlot style! 

Sunday we started early and drove to a village about two and a half hours away to meet with some fellow believers.  While we were meeting at one of our brother’s houses, they broke out some musical instruments and played some worship music.  It was pretty amazing.  We have a link here that gives you a sample of the music they were playing.  It is a little hard to make out the lyrics to the song but they are saying:  “Believe in God and he will save you….where your treasure is there your heart will be also”.

After spending some time visiting and singing we went to have lunch together.  One of our brothers brought his five year old son with him to our meeting.  At lunch there was a nearby playground that he was able to go and play on.  This was the first time he had ever even seen a playground – they are from a very impoverished village.  He was beyond thrilled.  We drove by the playground several more times that day and his eyes would light up as he pointed at the playground.

Once we finished lunch we went to another believer’s home in a village not far from where we were.  There we walked in to a very modest home and gathered in the back room to begin our meeting.  There were about nine of us altogether.  Craig and I started things off by sharing our testimonies.  They were eager to hear and said that we were sent there to encourage them by sharing.  It was getting pretty hot in the back room where we were meeting so we decided to move outside in a little garden area by the house.  Once we resettled, the local believers started sharing their testimonies.  What happened next can only be described as amazing!

We sat there in awe as we listened to these brothers tell us of the persecution they have faced on their journey to becoming believers.   One brother spoke of a life filled with drinking and women. He knew deep down that this life style was wrong and began to search for the truth.  He traveled to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage called the Hajj that “good” Muslims are required to do.  He performed all of the sacred ritualistic tasks that they are called upon to perform.  He chanted the words along with millions of others present, but they only left him more empty and thirsty for the truth.

One day, he saw some Christians on television speaking about Jesus.  He knew of Jesus as a prophet, but had never heard of Jesus as God.  He traveled to another country so he could learn more about the “good news”.  Over time, he began to realize the depravity of his life and his inability to ever do enough good works to get him into heaven.  He repented of his sins and began to follow Jesus.

Persecution came quickly.  His entire family shunned him.  His wife abandoned him, taking their 3 children with her.  He lost his job and all his money and possessions.  He had nothing…except Christ.  He said that he had lost everything, but he didn’t care anymore because “his chains were gone…He was, at last, a free man.”  His joy was in Christ, the Savior!

We listened to several more amazing stories just like this man’s.  Some had been delivered from a life of worldly sin, and others had been saved from their life of legalistic religion.  We began to realize something…..these men were just like us.  In fact, people everywhere are the same.  They are looking for truth…for freedom.  Some look to a worldly, sinful lifestyle, while others look to a rigid, rule-following religion.  But the truth is neither.  The truth is Jesus Christ!  And the story of Jesus Christ is a story of GRACE.  Grace is a foreign concept to much of the world.  They can’t understand a God that would take away our sins (past, present, and future) through grace, and allow us to live a life of freedom…freedom from sin…freedom from religion…freedom to serve God completely and wholly.  This is real life; this is real freedom.  And it knows no country, creed, race, or religion. It is found only in Christ Jesus, the Savior to ALL the world!

“Amazing GRACE, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see…My chains are gone, I’ve been set FREE. My God my Savior has ransomed me, and like a flood His mercy rains.  Amazing love, amazing grace!”

NA Team reaches London

Sammy and I have finished the first leg of our trip to North Africa. We arrived in London on time with all of our luggage! We have one more flight tomorrow before we meet up with our friends. Please pray that we will make it there with all of our luggage and that we make it through customs without any problems.

-Craig

Mission Team to North Africa Nov 1-11

Please be praying as our mission team leaves on Thursday to travel to North Africa.  They will be teaming up with our Workers there in the same region where we have sent many teams in the past.

Pray for safe travel and passage through customs.  Pray for travel connections to be made without problems or delays.  Pray that all the luggage will make it to its final destination.  Pray that their witness there for Christ will be effective and received by hearts softened to the Gospel message.  Pray for our dear friends S & N and their children that they will receive encouragement and blessing from this team.  Pray for good health for the mission team.  Pray for a safe return on November 11.

Sturgis Mission Trip Tuesday

Great mission opportunity today as we gave away over 1500 packets of sunscreen, lip balm and one million dollar bill tracks. In a little over an hour the seven of us passed out all the packets. The people were so appreciative and it opened up several good witnessing opportunities. Pray for all those who received the packets that it will challenge them to consider their eternal destiny.
Yesterday we spent 3 hours in the evangelism tent. Even though it was hot, the time passed quickly as we all got a chance to share our 3 minute testimonies with scores of people.  It was also good to be able to pray for many of those who came inside the tent having many different spiritual needs.
Pray for all who were touched by the Gospel and for those who prayed to accept Christ.